Though None Go With Me

I have decided to follow Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back

I was twenty-four years old when I came to know Christ. I had searched for truth for some time and was hungry to know about Jesus. I knew little about Him because my parents walked away from God when I was four. My father became bitter, so we stopped going to church.

My mom still tried to serve God in her way, but my father refused. Mother loved God, read her Bible, and listened to worship music despite not attending church. I remember hearing her sing Shirley Caesar’s gospel songs every Sunday morning. She desperately wanted to attend church, but my father made it hard for her, so to keep the peace, she stayed home.

Those years were difficult for our family. When my parents died, I had no guidance on how to live and no compass on where to go, so I decided to find Jesus. It wasn’t easy, but I never gave up hope of finding Him.

In 2002, when I walked into a United Pentecostal Church in Tigard, Oregon, pastored by John Dinwiddie, I knew I’d found my home. I knew I’d finally found where Jesus was.

However, not everyone was happy about my newfound faith. My sisters tried to discourage me from following the Lord. Although their words hurt me, I forgave them and never gave up hope that God would one day save them.

Imagine my surprise when my family walked into church one Sunday, and they all wanted to be baptized in Jesus’ name and learn more about Him. I was so happy!

Sadly, ten years later, my family walked away from God. It broke my heart. They made their decision, and I had to accept it. I left them in God’s hands and continued to live for Him, despite what they thought.

Now that I’d found Jesus, I was determined not to let Him go. I had lived for twenty-four years not knowing the Lord, and now, when my family decided to walk away, I made up my mind not to follow them.

“From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God” (John 6:66-69, KJV).

I decided to follow Jesus, and I wasn’t going to turn back now.

Tho’ none go with me, still I will follow,
Tho’ none go with me, still I will follow,
No turning back, no turning back

Years later, my family started attending a non-denominational church. They no longer believed the Oneness of God message (read Deuteronomy 6:4, Galatians 3:20, John 10:30, James 2:19, I Timothy 2:5, I Corinthians 6:17). I keep praying that God will bring the prodigals home one day.

“And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.” (Luke 15:20-21, KJV)

My family tried to convince me to leave the truth, but I would not. Seeing my sisters not living in truth was hard, but every day I prayed that God would restore them.

My cross I’ll carry till I see Jesus;
No turning back, No turning back

For years, my relationship with my sisters was strained. We loved one another, but our doctrinal differences kept us apart. But God did a work.

In 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Lord called my husband and me to move to Utah. It was difficult because I didn’t want to leave my family, not knowing if they would ever return to the truth. After the move, I assumed my relationship with my family would get worse, but God fixed what was broken and repaired the hurt.

I now have the relationship I prayed for and believe in God’s promise that He will bring them back to the truth.

The world behind me, the cross before me,
No turning back, no turning back.

Here are some ways to stay connected to your prodigal:

• Pray for them
• Don’t judge
• Be the light
• Understand God works in His time
• Forgive them, if they hurt you
• Love them
• Be patient with them
• Never compromise your faith in God to please them
• Give them grace

If my family never returns to the truth, I cannot allow it to affect my walk with God. My love for them won’t change, whether they are inside or outside the church. For a while, it was beautiful seeing my family living for God. Now that they are away from the truth, I need to be an example of Jesus Christ. As I live out my faith, they may find their way back to God. Until then, I will serve God wholeheartedly and do everything I can to be the best godly example to my husband, kids, and future generations.

The Apostle Paul said, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before” (Philippians 3:13, KJV).

“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Matthew 16:24, KJV).